SPRINGFIELD –Legislation sponsored by State Senator John Mulroe (D-Chicago) to support widows, widowers and family members of Chicago police officers, firefighters and paramedics that die in the line of duty is now law.

House members voted overwhelmingly to override Gov. Rauner’s veto in support of Chicago first responders. The Senate voted to override the governor’s veto two weeks ago.

“I am thrilled that legislation I sponsored to support Chicago police officers, firefighters, paramedics and their widows passed the House and overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto,” Mulroe said. “I have fought for the past two years to make sure that the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect us receive the benefits they deserve.”

Senate Bill 440 provides a modest annuity of no less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level to widows and widowers. It also clarifies the benefits for Tier II firefighters and police officers who are killed in the line of duty to ensure that their family is entitled to a death benefit. Lastly, it provides a cost-of-living adjustment to police officer, paramedic and firefighter annuitants by moving the “born before” eligibility to 1966. Normally the “born before” eligibility has been updated every five years since 1982, however it has not been updated since 2004.

SPRINGFIELD –Legislation to support Chicago police officers and firefighters and their widows and widowers passed the Senate today in a veto override.

Senate Bill 440, sponsored by Senator John Mulroe (D-Chicago 10), passed both houses of the legislature with bipartisan support in the spring but was vetoed by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

“I think it’s important that we provide for the families of our firefighters and police officers,” Mulroe said.

This bill provides a modest annuity of no less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level to widows and widowers. It also clarifies the benefits for Tier II firefighters and police officers who are killed in the line of duty to ensure that their family is entitled to a death benefit. Lastly, it provides a cost-of-living adjustment to police officer and firefighter annuitants by moving the “born before” eligibility to 1966.

“Since 1982 the ‘born before’ eligibility has been updated every five years to ensure that firefighters and police officers receive their cost-of-living adjustment, but it has not been updated since 2004,” Mulroe said.

SB 440 passed the Senate with a 37-15 vote. It now moves to the House for consideration.

“This legislation will streamline the process for voter registration and will ensure that eligible voters are better able to access the ballot,” Mulroe said. “It updates the voting rolls so that as citizens move, their registration is updated.”

Illinois currently operates under an opt-in voter registration system, placing the burden on individuals and third-party organizations to make sure voter registration is accurate and up to date. Automatic voter registration is expected to add 2 million eligible voters to the voting rolls in 2018 and update the addresses for 700,000 voters.

Most residents will see the effect of this legislation when their voter registration is automatically updated when they renew their driver’s license or state ID at the local driver services facility.

Senate Bill 250 passed the Senate 38-18 and moves to the House for consideration. If passed, it would make Illinois the sixth state to approve automatic voter registration.

Senator John Mulroe is encouraging Illinois women to take advantage of 3D mammography and other screening tools to detect breast cancer early and potentially save their lives.

Mulroe, a Chicago Democrat, was the chief Senate sponsor of Senate Bill 466 requiring health insurance companies to cover 3D mammograms in Illinois. The plan had bipartisan support, and Gov. Bruce Rauner signed it into law in July.

“I believe this law will help save lives through early detection,” Mulroe said. “I encourage women and at-risk men to review their early detection plans and to take advantage of the technological advances in 3D mammography.”

Experts agree that early detection is a key to survival. Statistics show that 99 percent of people diagnosed with breast cancer during the early stages reach a five-year relative survival rate.

The enhanced 3D screening technology decreases false positives, which reduces the number of times women are asked to return for additional screenings and the accompanying anxiety those callbacks can produce.

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, located in Mulroe’s district, was the first medical center in the Midwest to offer 3D mammography screenings.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for women in the state. The department estimates that 10,290 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and 10,440 will be diagnosed with it in 2017.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women get a base-line mammogram between the age of 40 and 44. After 45, they should have a yearly mammogram screening, and those older than 55 should be screened every two years.

Nationally, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. It’s the second leading cause of cancer death in women.

Only men who have a higher risk of breast cancer because of family history or gene mutation are recommended to undergo a mammogram.